Lithogenic bile predisposes to which condition?

• A. Cholecystitis
• B. Gallstones
• C. Pancreatitis
• D. Biliary atresia

Answer: (B)

Lithogenic bile is bile that is supersaturated with cholesterol (often with reduced bile acids or phospholipids), so cholesterol tends to precipitate and form crystals that grow into stones. This makes cholesterol gallstones the most likely outcome, since the bile composition directly promotes stone formation. Cholecystitis and pancreatitis can occur as complications of stones, but the underlying predisposition from the bile is toward stone formation. Biliary atresia is unrelated to bile composition and is a congenital condition.